On the Mend and Then Some

In the battle of Bobcat versus Varicella Zoster Josie came out on top after about nine days of quarantine. She was spared fever and only developed a few pox on her face so all told it was a minor case.

Regarding her sleep training, Josie has made some progress. Annie received a very thoughtful letter from one of her mommy friends that gave her a few ideas. With a change in bedroom lighting and the revival of her swaddle, Josie is able to pull three-hour stretches together. Far from ideal, but for the moment and for the sake of everybody getting along, Annie and JP have accepted this tiny advancement. Come January we'll get back to work.

Napping in her crib with her Ice Bat. You can kinda make out Josie's biggest scab on her temple.

Annie decided to give some very dilute rice cereal a whirl one day to see how the Bobcat liked eating of a spoon. The verdict is "YUM!"

Seriously, she makes this face almost every time the camera phone comes out.

Not a moment too soon Josie's dexterity has been making great strides. She loves to hold just about anything, but seems to have a special affection for cups. Maybe she has noticed how happy Daddy's cups seem to make him.

Turning the gecko rattle on her jumperoo

So many things to grab! I loveses the jumperoo even more!!!

Reading about colors in the car

This ball is one of Josie's favorites. And it doesn't even have eyes!

Josie was shocked to arrive at the Stone Brewery one evening to meet Annie's friend Jinx on her surprise visit from New York. She was a well-behaved baby sleeping most of the evening away in her car seat.

"So many cups!"

The next day the whole family took a trip to La Jolla Shores with the Gandhis so JP could show Rohan the joy of surfing with a handgun, a small hand-held surfboard. Josie wore a super cute and beachy outfit from Aunt Vikki, but spent most of the time snuggled under a blanket with Annie or Rishti because the weather was so breezy.

"Rishti, keep me warm with your love!"

Next up is our trip to Chicago. It will be Josie's first trip to a big city. Sure, San Diego is big and also a city, but it's definitely not a "big city."

Halloween

Just when JP and Annie were wondering what costume they could concoct for Josie to wear this Halloween, a cute little candy corn hat arrived from her Auntie Sara. It was a big hit. Next year, we will all be candy corns and be the most popular people wherever we go!

So sweet!

Friday evening Josie told JP all about her day passing out toothaches in her charming beanie over a beer. Looks like he's not sure if she likes the beer or the fact that she can grab the bottle.


Despite Josie's ultimate decision on the candy corn costume, she tried out other ideas. Her parents believe she was considering a Night of the Living Dead zombie costume based on her continuing craptastic sleep pattern. They have started a sleep diary to keep track of their lack of shut eye. "Remember last week when we thought were up half the night?" Annie joked to JP. "Now we have a record of how little sleep we get! Sweet, we were only up for three hours!"

It seems she thought of dressing up as a teenager because over the last few days she has been developing red spots all over her body (head, face, armpits, chest, back, diaper area). Mom is currently biding her time by updating her baby blog until the nurse calls back.

The spots don't seem to bother Josie in the least since she spent more time grabbing at the camera. She was not even distracted by the TV, a sure bet if Mom tried to get her to nurse. Bobcat is so contrary!

Long and Lean

Josie had her four-month visit with her pediatrician today although she'll be five months old in another week. She is looking good! Now measuring 25 inches long (75th percentile) and weighing in at 12 pounds 7 ounces (20th percentile), Bobcat is long and lean. That explains why she had been sporting the Flashdance "off the shoulder" look with her wide and short onesies. On the downside, Josie is a Trained Night Feeder (ya think?!) but she is going on a strict two-week regimen to straighten her out.

Over the weekend, Annie dressed Josie up in one of JP's childhood outfits. Once the scanner directions get read, JP will post some side-by-side comparisons of his baby pictures and Josie's.


Below are a couple photos of recent, random cuteness.

Fired up after a morning nap

Cuddling up to Dad after a bath

Fall Chill

Josie and Annie have recently returned from a trip to Edinboro, PA to visit with friends and family while enjoying fall foliage and cloudy days.

We met up with a whole gang of old buds at Uncle Charlie's one night. Josie scored a cute hat, perfect for looking bad-ass on those warm fall days back in San Diego.

Grammy calls it her Manny Ramirez hat.

With the cold weather and lack of BOB stroller it was sometimes difficult to get out for a walk. We did manage a quick jaunt.

Bundled and loving it!

Josie took advantage of the cold weather and tried out all her fun sweaters and hats. Actually she uses all her blankets and warm clothes quite a bit in San Diego. Houses tend to be poorly insulated here, so if it's 60 outside, it can be on the chilly side at home.

Showing off the Halloween sweater and matching pumpkin hat Grammy made

One of the best parts of our visit was getting to hang with cousin Avery while Auntie Kate was at work. The girls exchanged tips on rolling over, using both hands at the same time, and break dancing.

"Josie, just plant your face and wiggle! They love it!"

Mom and Grammy had quite the adventure trying to capture some Bobcat and Avery tracks. The feet were cake, but, the front paws were more challenging. Turns out when you put something soft and squishy in a baby's hand, she makes a fist.

Bobcat's tracks are on the left

On our way out of town, we ran into Steeler's legend Franco Harris in the Pittsburgh airport captured in this "Immaculate Reception" statue.

I got your Browns right here!

Stay tuned. Josie will travel to Chicago in November and back to Edinboro again for the holidays.

Blink!

The sands of time have long slipped through the hourglass at an alarming rate, but never have the days gone so fast since the arrival of little Bobcat. Josie is four months old now!

Every day is a surprise, but she often follows a routine of some sorts. She usually wakes between 7:00AM and 8:00AM after waking once or twice during the night. During the day, Annie forces Josie to nap with the help of a swing since, without a nap, she becomes what her parents call "Cornholio." This name will ring a bell for anyone familiar with Beavis and Butthead. Other than the occasional need of "TP for her bunghole" (again a Beavis and Butthead reference), Josie is a pretty easy going baby. Here's what she has been up to lately...

JP acquired a small (10' x 30") pool in hopes of testing out Josie's mammalian diving reflex. He was unable, to Annie's knowledge, to accomplish a dunk, but did manage to get a swim or two in before Annie found a half eaten quesadilla floating around in it and nixed the whole thing.

Is that a warm spot or ...

The whole family enjoyed the Adam's Avenue Street Fair along with some friends of Annie's from work. Josie even had a date!

Annie, Josie, Seth, and Juan

Grandpa Bob taught Josie how fun it is to dance to The Gipsy Kings at Rancho's ...

Hasn't quite mastered all those claps

... And she continues to enjoy hanging out at the Blind Lady Ale House.

Watching the action out on Adams Avenue with Grammy

Josie has started wearing saucy little mini skirts like this one from Great Aunt Vicki. JP is not so sure she should be allowed out of the house like this especially with the badonkadonk those cloth diapers provide.

Got it goin' on like Donkey Kong

JP and Josie enjoy spending their weekends in the hammock on the back porch.
During her waking moments, Josie often insists on being upright. JP and Annie once celebrated Josie's physical strength and milestones, but have come to fear that mobility is not too far off. It's a game-changer.

Josie loves to sit up on the count of three.

Dog Days of Summer

Josie's grandparents Margaret and Phil came to visit for a week. This was Josie's first chance to get to know Margaret and Phil one on one, without competition from any other grandbabies.

She had lots of fun and got lots of attention. Getting lots of attention has just started to become her primary goal in life over the last few weeks.

Margaret got lots of quality time with Josie. Phil got some too, but J.P. distracted him considerably with the construction of a new shade for the back porch.


As fate would have it, this was one of the hottest weeks of the summer. Perfect for working out in the sun. Despite taking twice as long as anticipated and cutting considerably into Phil's relaxation time, the pergola came out great, and Josie is looking forward to hanging out in her much improved backyard.

Phil and Margaret finally relax in the shade

Josie cools off in the pool

Josie has started to get very vocal

Stairway to Seven

Josie, big enough to kinda fit her Steelers cap, prepared all day for the NFL opening game. She sat up in front of Mom's Terrible Towel. She took a break from saying "ah-goo" to practice her Copisms, "hum-hah" and "yoi." She tried on several black and gold outfits before settling on a black onesie and a yellow diaper.

Unfortunately, she forgot to learn a darned thing about football. Josie claims to have been thrown off by the awful music featured in the pre-game show. She was restless during the first half, slept through the second, and screamed bloody murder after the Steelers first touchdown. Her mom knows she'll be a big 'Burgh fan, however, because ... well, she has no choice.

Ta-dah! The final outfit: a shirt from the Heinzerling Minty fam and a yellow diaper from the diaper fairy

Titans? Bah! We will crush you like leetle ants!

Speaking of small, blue things Josie's eye color has not changed much since birth. Many people are betting that her eyes will remain blue, and her brown-eyed parents are starting to believe them.

Jeepers, creepers! Where'd you get those peepers?!